Community House Middle School Band

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Welcome

Community House Middle School has many wonderful music opportunities for students.  With a beginning band, intermediate band, advanced band and jazz band, this is a great time to be involved in our exciting program.  If you or anyone you know has an interest  in music, tell them to come check us out.  If you’re a parent, we’d love to have your help and support to make this program as successful as we can for the children.  There are always ways you can help, so don’t be shy, just ask!  Take a moment to look through this website for more great information.  Check back often for changes and calendar updates!

2015-2016 School Year

Welcome to the 2015-16 school year.  I hope everyone has had a great summer break.  Open House Information for all students can be found here:

http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/communityhouseMS/_layouts/15/CharMeckSchoolFiles/school_announcementdetails.aspx?id=310

Check back soon for an up to date materials list for the upcoming school year.  Also, be sure to check the calendars page for future concert and trip dates for all members of the CHMS band.

Welcome to 2015

I hope everyone is enjoying their winter break.  As we head into the 2015 school year I am looking forward to many exciting performance opportunities for the next 12 months.  Listed below are several announcements and reminders for band students and families.


7th and 8th Grade Students:

The week of Jan 5th-9th will be our seating auditions for 3rd quarter.  Assignments were made for which scales and pieces you would be playing on this test.  If you have a question about what you were assigned, please email me at [email protected]


8th Grade Students going to Atlanta:

Student and Chaperone account information and payment schedule will be given out during the week we return from winter break.  Payment #1 is due by January 31st.


6th Grade band Students:

Instrument switch auditions will happen in class the week we return from break.  Read over the audition materials for the instrument you are wanting to switch to and be prepared.

All-District and All-State Solo Recordings

For those of you interested in auditioning for All-District Band your solo recordings are linked below.

http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/FPA/schools-departments-and-centers/music/music-alumni-and-friends/north-carolina-all-state-solos-2012-13.asp

8th Grade Atlanta Deposit Due October 10th

8th grade parents:

The $75 deposit for the trip to Atlanta is due Friday October 10th.  Please make checks payable to our parent organization CHMS BRAVO.

6th Grade Open House

It's that time of year again and the open house schedule has been posted. You can find more information about your assigned open house time here:


http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/communityhouseMS/_layouts/CharMeckSchoolFiles/school_announcement details.aspx?id=254

Spring Concert Update

Over the next week the Community House Bands will be hosting out annual Spring Concerts at Ardrey Kell high school.

7th and 8th Grade Spring Concert: Tuesday May 6th at 6:30 pm
6th Grade Spring Concert: Monday May 12th at 6:30 pm

Admission to both events in completely free!!!! I hope to see you there!

Semester 1 Playing Test!!!

Over the next two weeks (Jan. 6 to Jan. 17th) we will be completing our semester 1 playing tests.  These teats are only for 7th and 8th grade students and will determine your chair placement for second semester.  Read all of the following information closely:

Test Materials:
Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, G, F, C scales one octave
Additionally a one octave Bb Chromatic Scale on quarter notes

Students wishing to complete their test at home:
Record youself playing all of the testing materials using audacity and email your recording to [email protected]

Students wishing to complete their test in class:
We will be going alphabetically in order through each section.  You will have 8 minutes in class to finish your recording in my office.

Winter Concerts!!!

It's hard to believe but our winter concerts are fast approaching.  This year the Community House Bands will be holding our winter concerts in the main gym at Community House.  Below is the concert schedule for all involved.

Tuesday December 3rd: 6th Grade Band
6:00 pm: Arrive at CHMS
- 6th Grade Band members report to the gym
6:30 pm: Concert begins

Tuesday December 10th: Jazz Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band
6:00 pm: Arrive at CHMS
- Jazz Band members report to the Gym
- 7th Grade Band members report to the Band Room
- 8th Grade Band members report to the Orchestra Room

6:30 pm: Jazz Band Concert starts
~ 7:00 pm: 7th Grade Band Concert starts
~ 7:30 pm: 8th Grade Band Concert starts

All-District Solo Recordings

For those of you that signed up for All-District Band a link to your solo recording is provided below.  Some of the recordings are not complete but they can still give you a great reference to how your solo should be played.

http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/FPA/schools-departments-and-centers/music/music-alumni-and-friends/north-carolina-all-state-solos-2012-13.asp

6th Grade Woodwinds Chair Placement Information

Due to the length of time it is taking to work through our chair placement exams I am opening up the opportunity for students to record their chair placement exams at home and email their audio file to me.  Below are the steps needed to email me audio files.

1. Download Audacity : http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
2. Click Record (button with red circle)
3. Play Concert Bb scale
4. Play Concert Eb scale (Flutes only)
5. Play Concert F scale (Clarinets and Also Sax only)
6. Click Stop (button with yellow square)
7. Save file as firstname_lastname chair placement exam
8. Email the file to [email protected]

If recording at home is not an option students still have the opportunity to record during class.

Chair Placement Exam Update and Audacity

Due to the length of time it is taking to work through our chair placement exams I am opening up the opportunity for students to record their chair placement exams at home and email their audio file to me.  Below are the steps needed to email me audio files.

1. Download Audacity : http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
2. Click Record (button with red circle)
3. Play Concert Bb scale
4. Play Concert Eb scale
5. Play Concert C scale
6. Play Concert Ab scale
7. Click Stop (button with yellow square)
8. Save file as firstname_lastname chair placement exam
9. Email the file to [email protected]

If recording at home is not an option students still have the opportunity to record during class.

Chair Placement Exam September 16th - September 27th

Each year all members of the Community House 7th and 8th band participate in the beginning of the year chair placement exam.  This exam is used to gage the musical goals of each 7th and 8th student in the music program.  This exam requires each student to perform 4 scales and sight reading.  Exams will be taken in class and will be audio recorded for listening at a later time.  Listed below are the scale requirements for each instrument.  Percussion students must take the exam on Snare Drum and Mallets.

  • Flute and Oboe – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone – Ab, F, Eb, Bb and Sight Reading
  • Alto and Bari Saxophone – Bb, Ab, Eb, F and Sight Reading
  • Trumpet – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Horn - Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Trombone – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Tuba – Bb, Ab, C, Eb, and Sight Reading
  • Percussion (Snare Drum) Rudiments 1,2,4,6 and 16 from the following website http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php
  • Percussion (Mallets) Bb and C Scale
***All Scales are marked in Concert Pitch***

Go-Play-Save Fundraiser Ends this Friday!!!

Our annual Go-Play-Save Fundraiser ends this Friday September 13th.  Please return all cllected money and books that you have not sold to the band room before Homeroom.  The only time you can turn in fundraiser materials is 8:45 to 9:15.

Jazz Band Audition Information

If your child is auditioning for Jazz band they should have with them an index card with their audition time and date noted on it.  These auditions will take place of the next two weeks and results will be announced Thursday and Friday September 12th and 13th in class.  Jazz band rehearsals will begin during enrichment during the week of September 16th.  Practice for each scale listed below can be found on the Chip de Stefano warm-ups that I asked each student to download during the first week of classes. Sight reading will be done through Smart Music Exercises Level 3.  Good luck to each of you!!!

 

Sight Reading – Smart Music Exercises Level 3

  • Flute – Scales Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone – Ab, F, Eb, Bb and Sight Reading
  • Alto and Bari Saxophone – Bb, Ab, Eb, F and Sight Reading
  • Trumpet – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Trombone – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
  • Tuba – Bb, Ab, C, Eb, and Sight Reading
  • String Bass – D, C, G and Sight Reading
  • Piano - Bb, Ab, C, Eb (all multiple octaves) and Sight Reading
  • Drum Set – Rudiments 1,2,3,4,6,7,9 and 16 from the following website http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php  and Sight Reading

    ***All Scales are marked in Concert Pitch***

    Beginning of School Homework

    Reminder for 7th and 8th grade Band students.  The homework I assigned in class will be due the 3rd and 4th days of school (Wednesday and Thursday).  For those of you that might not have written the assignment down or may have forgotten what the assignment was, you need to click on the Downloads tab at the top of this page, find the "free music section" and click the Chip De Stefano Warm Up Exercises link.  Download and print the warm up for your instrument and bring it in to class.  These warm ups will go into your band notebook.

    Open House and Go-Play-Save Fundraiser Kickoff

    It was wonderful meeting all of the parents and students at todays open house.  For those of you that could not attend, do not worry I will pass out all of the same information to your students on the first couple of days of school.

     

    Our annual Go-Play-Save fundraiser will kick off Wednesday August 28th and will conclude September 13th.  Each student will be asked to try and sell 5 books during this fundraiser.  The Go-Play-Save fundraiser is the only fundraiser that we do each year and your contribution is very helpful in helping provide the band program the funds we need to operate throughout the year.










    Bravo Booster Club


    Due to the lack of funding from CMS, the Bravo Booster Club is the sole support system for Mr. Shives and the band program.  The Bravo Board Members are as follows:

     

    Band Director -- David Shives

    Orchestra Director -- Courtney Guthrie

    President --

    Band VP (7th/8th Grade) -- Frances Byrom

    Band VP (6th Grade) -- Subah Vardi

    Fundraising --

     

    Would you like to volunteer?


    We are always in need of volunteers for chaperoning, assisting with fundraisers and many other things.  If you would like to volunteer, please email Mr. Shives and he will give you the email address of the appropriate VP.